October 22-23, 2019 Extraordinary, Sporting & Collector Firearms
This lot is closed for bidding. Bidding ended on 10/22/2019
For a similar example, see pages 204 and 205, number 97 in "Historic Pistols" by Samuel E. Smith and Edwin W. Bitter. This is one of the almost unknown 1812 Contract pistols supplied by to the US Navy during the War of 1812. There were a total of 460 delivered. Today, according to "Historic Pistols", only two examples are known to exist, possibly due to rough naval use. The round smoothbore steel barrel is marked on the left side of the breech with a sunken "P" cartouche. The flat lockplate is stamped "J. HENRY" in the center. Standard brass 1807 style furniture with the addition of a belt hook. Complete with associated steel-tipped wooden ramrod. It is evident that this pistol had a Chambers alteration, as the piece of stock was intentionally removed along the barrel and a very small piece of metal can be seen from the tube that ignited the front charge. This was done with most Chambers-altered pistols. The government later gave up on this and converted them back to flint, according to Robert Sadler. CONDITION: Barrel retains a pitted surface with an applied brown finish. Lock is a good reconversion and retains a brown finish. Stock has a later coat of finish with some scattered marks from use and a few slivers along forend on right side. Belt hook is a contemporary replacement and is a copy of the British sea service belt hook. A rare pistol. DMG
Caliber/Bore
.56 Smoothbore